The best cars we drove in 2018

It goes without saying, but we're a seriously lucky bunch here at Roadshow. We genuinely love cars, and are fortunate enough to spend our days driving the latest and greatest new metal -- and in some pretty outstanding locales, too.

But some stars shine brighter than others. Some cars leave a truly lasting impression. So as we close the books on 2018, its with a great joy that we wax poetic on some of the best new vehicles we had the pleasure of driving in 2018.

You'll be seeing a few fine Porsches on this list, and indeed another flavor of this very car in just a few slides' time. But although we like to keep things varied, looking back on all the splendid things I was lucky enough to drive this year, the Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo flavor of the new Panamera stands out as the one I would most like to own.

Yes, the GT3 Touring is a fantastic machine (which you'll be seeing more of in just a moment), and the sheer dimensions of the Panamera would make living with one something of a commitment, but there was no other machine I drove this year that could keep me smiling 365 days a year.

Balancing 680 horsepower and the ability to do more than 20 miles emissions-free, this is a legitimately practical, surprisingly frugal, ridiculously fast car. It's not a supercar by the traditional definition, but no other car does all that quite so well. The only problem? The price tag. The $188,400 starting price is steep, but as with most German cars, that's just the beginning. Out of my budget, but awfully nice to dream.

Chris Paukert's pick: 2018 Toyota Century

OK, so the Toyota Century wasn't the most dynamic vehicle I drove all year, nor the most expensive. Heck, my drive was entirely lodged in dense Tokyo traffic. But I've always wanted to drive this Japanese-market flagship luxury sedan, and was honored to be the first Western journalist to get behind the wheel of this new third-gen model.

Chris Paukert's pick: 2019 Toyota Century

Starting at the equivalent of $172,900 US, just 50 of these handbuilt hybrid-V8-powered specials will come off the line each month. The Century isn't really a Rolls-Royce or Bentley rival, it's its own thing, and all the better for it.

Steven Ewing's pick: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

I drove the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring in late August, and upon handing the keys back at the end of my week-long loan, proclaimed it my favorite car of 2018. Even with four months left in the year, I was sure no other car would leave an impression on me quite like the GT3 Touring.

Steven Ewing's pick: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

It's easy to wax poetic about the Porsche 911. Even in its base form, it's truly a standout among performance cars. But the GT3 Touring is the absolute best example of the 991-generation I've driven. It's a sports car that stands high above all the others.

The weight and feedback of the steering. The sound of that brutal, 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six engine. The perfect weight of the clutch and exact throws of the six-speed manual shifter. Every single part of the GT3 Touring experience is designed to awaken enthusiasm in its driver. This car is an ode to folks who truly love the most pure sports cars.

Steven Ewing's pick: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring

You'll read about the standard-issue GT3 later in this gallery, but the look of the Touring really does it for me. Those hips. Those wheels. That stance. And no silly wing on the tail to ruin those iconic lines.

I hope I get another crack at the GT3 Touring in 2019. If so, you might well see it on next year's version of this list -- and deservedly so.

Emme Hall's pick: 2018 Jeep Wrangler

While the Pentastar V6 engine is a carryover, Jeep now offers a 2.0-liter turbo with its eTorque mild hybrid system. This four-banger puts out more torque than the V6. Even better, a diesel is coming soon.

Emme Hall's pick: 2018 Jeep Wrangler

The top of the line Rubicon gets all the dirt goodies necessary to tackle the rough stuff: locking front and rear solid axles, beefier tires and disconnecting sway bars. Its approach and departure angles are tough to beat as well. Bottom line? If you want to get out there and get back, get a Jeep.

Antuan Goodwin's pick: 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata

I've loved and driven every generation of Mazda's legendary, loveable MX-5 Miata, and the newest 2019 model is objectively the best of them all. This model year brings 26 more horsepower and a 1,000-RPM loftier redline along with a host of small performance tweaks that make the roadster feel more alive and playful on the track and, yes, even on your commute.

Antuan Goodwin's pick: 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Whether you go with the manual ragtop or the powered-hardtop RF model, the 2019 MX-5 also boasts more comfort upgrades and more standard and optional safety tech than ever before. The MX-5 is now much easier to live with, especially for taller drivers thanks to a wider range of seating and steering position adjustment.

Antuan Goodwin's pick: 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The purists' MX-5 has never been about tech and gadgets, but this year added Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to the Miata's bag of tricks courtesy of a dealer retrofit. With just one upgrade, the MX-5's tech goes from "good enough" to "just what I'm looking for" without spoiling the Miata's focus on simple driving joy.

Jon Wong's pick: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3

The highlight of the year is driving the 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 around GingerMan Raceway. A 4.0-liter boxer six-cylinder engine making 500 horsepower with a 9,000-RPM redline is difficult to forget. The noise this naturally aspirated engine makes after 8,000 revs is soul stirring and the throttle response is sensational. How can you possibly improve on that?

Jon Wong's pick: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3

By offering the engine with a manual transmission again, that's how. After a boatload of Porsche fans complained about the 911 GT3 initially not being offered with three pedals and only with an excellent dual-clutch automatic, the updated 2018 model saw a manual return to the fold. And it's making for a more involving drive experience on both the race track and street.

Jon Wong's pick: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3

On top of engine performance, soundtrack and the return of the manual gearbox, you're left with a car that is perfectly livable for regular driving with the adaptive suspension softened. I don't even mind the large rear wing. It's not only functional but looks at home on a car that boasts capabilities to back it up.

Manuel Carrillo III's pick: 2019 Lexus ES 300h

Granted, the Lexus Enform infotainment interface is subpar and the hybrid version prevents the rear seats from folding, but despite these drawbacks, the ES 300h is one of the most fun and cosseting hybrids in production today.

Kyle Hyatt's pick: 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

Car? Psh. For my pick, I'm going two-wheel.

After all, when it comes to the amount of performance you get for each dollar you spend, it's impossible to beat a motorcycle, and that is extra true with the 175-horsepower Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. Nothing I drove or rode this year (including the new Ruf Yellowbird) came close to the Tuono in terms of outright rapidity. It's an absolute gem of a machine.

Kyle Hyatt's pick: 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

The Tuono is about way more than its glorious flat-plane V4 engine. Its incredible Ohlins suspension makes riding more comfortable and confidence-inspiring while its highly advanced electronics help ensure that you don't end up on fire and in a hedge somewhere. It's not the most approachable motorcycle ever, but considering its performance, it's pretty easy to live with.

Kyle Hyatt's pick: 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

For under $20,000 you can have access to performance that will make modern Ferraris hang their head in shame. You get a clutchless quickshifter that lets you work up and down through the gears, blipping for you and making you sound like a boss. There is no infotainment, no creature comforts, but what there is in spades is a near-perfect connection to a machine that was designed and built by people who love going fast and feeling connected to the road. The Tuono V4 1100 Factory is a revelation.